Antarctica: The Dilemmas of a Stricken Whaling Factory Ship
Takver | 20.02.2007 16:27 | Analysis | Animal Liberation | Ecology | World
The Japanese Government faces tough dilemmas about the best way to move the stricken whale factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, and where best to move it to. The ship remains without engines in the Ross Sea area of Antarctica, damaged by a fire onboard. Strong concerns have been expressed by environmentalists and the New Zealand Prime Minister over the danger of an environmental disaster should the ship's substantial supply of oil leak.
Nisshin Maru in the Ross Sea
Robert Hunter in Melbourne
Anti-Whaling Banner
Bow damage on the Robert Hunter
The Australian and New Zealand Government do not want the Nisshin Maru in their ports, but under a maritime emergency are obligated to provide Port Facilities. The ship in the area with the best towing capacity is the Greenpeace vessel, Esperanza. But the Japanese have accused Greenpeace of being terroists and it is extremely doubtful they would overcome the loss of face to accept towing assistance from Greenpeace.
A fire onboard in the factory processing area on 15 February, caused the evacuation of non-essential crew to other vessels in the Japanese Whaling Fleet. After the fire was isolated and put out, the body of one member of the crew, Kazutaka Makita, was recovered. The ship has had power restored but has been unable to start the ship engines so far.
== Fire triggers Maritime Distress Signal ==
The Nisshin Maru issued a maritime distress signal resulting in a response from the Greenpeace ship Esperanza. A United States coast guard ice breaker, Polar Sea, also responded but has since moved on after conducting a 360 degree environmental assessment around the Nisshun Maru.
The Nisshin Maru has the supply ship Oriental Bluebird on one side and the whale hunter Yushin Maru on the other. It is drifting in the Ross Sea near pack ice about 100km from the world's largest Adelie penguin breeding rookery, at Cape Adare on the Antarctic coast. The Nisshin Maru is carrying more than 1,000 tonnes (343,000 gallons) of fuel, and if it leaked or spilled could cause incalculable damage to wildlife and the pristine polar environment.
Details of the exact nature of the fire damage are sketchy, although it was located in the processing section of the ship and damaged the main electrical switchboard and equipment used for propulsion. Power has now been restored, but attempts to restart the ship engines have so far failed.
The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is a former fire fighting ship with towing capabilities, with the Captain having 10 years salvage experience on board tugboats. The Institute for Cetecean Research for the Japanese Government has rejected offers by Greenpeace to tow the Nisshin Maru out of the area.
Greenpeace campaigner, Melanie from the Esperanza, said "All of our offers to tow the vessel to safety have been refused by the Japanese authorities in Tokyo. We have been told that the whaling fleet will use its own vessels to tow the Nisshin Maru north, however, the Esperanza still remains the best-equipped ship for the job."
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has urged Japan to immediately remove the Nisshin Maru from Antarctic waters to reduce the risk of damage to the fragile polar environment. "We have a huge concern for the environment, a pristine environment in the area of Antarctica where New Zealand has a claim," said Prime Minister Clark. "So we would like to see that stricken ship out of there as soon as possible."
Later on Newstalk ZB radio Helen Clark said "My advice is if you can't see a way of getting that boat out of there without some help either from the American vessel or from Greenpeace or from somebody else, the world is going to be very upset if there's a major spill in that area,"
At her post-Cabinet press conference, she said, "One would hope that the fact that this season has been so ghastly for the Japanese whaling fleet might give cause for some reflection on whether they come back again."
== Will the Whale Hunt Resume? ==
According to a Glen Inwood, a public relations spokesperson for the International Cetecean Research Institute, the damage to the engines isn't as bad as initially determined, "They've pumped out all the water after the fire and are checking the wiring. It would be ideal if they could get moving today and continue on." he said. The prospect of whaling continuing this season is only possible if the Nisshin Maru is available to process the whale meat from the slaughter.
If the whale hunt continues Greenpeace protests from the Esperanza will target the harpoon boats in an effort to frustrate the harpooners, and draw maximum publicity on the barbarity of hunting and slaughtering whales.
== Australia, New Zealand cool on providing Port Facilities ==
New Zealand Conservation Minister, Chris Carter, has also said there were serious issues to consider before New Zealand gave safe harbour to the damaged Nisshin Maru, if a request from the Japanese Government was made. "They do have whale meat on board, it is a vessel that's currently unsafe – and filled with rather nasty and toxic chemicals," Mr Carter said.
A spokeswoman for Australia's Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull, declined to say whether permission would likely be granted for the Nisshin Maru to enter an Australian port. "Under Australia's Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act, a whaling vessel may only enter an Australian port with the written permission of the minister for environment and water resources," the spokeswoman said.
There are international obligations to allow a damaged vessel into port if an unforeseen emergency made it necessary to save the vessel or a human life.
While the Esperanza watches the stricken whaling factory ship from a distance, Greenpeace has been providing information on the movement of ice floes in the area from their helicopter. While the weather is currently relatively calm, polar sea conditions can change abruptly causing problems for a ship without propulsion.
== Sea Shepherd ==
While Sea Shepherd set out to disable the Nisshin Maru, it is ironical that it was an onboard fire that seemingly achieved the goal of Sea Shepherd of stopping the whale hunt this season.
The Sea Shepherd vessel, the Robert Hunter, arrived in Melbourne on the 19th February and was greeted by supporters. This ship arrived just before the deadline for losing its British maritime registration. It is understood that Captain Paul Watson is negotiating with another country to flag the vessel. Johnny Vasic for Sea Shepherd said: "We want to make sure we have it before we announce it so we don't get pressure by Japan again."
The second Sea Shepherd ship, the Farley Mowat is due to dock in Melbourne on 22 February. It lost its flag registration after the Japanese Government pressured Belize, and was declared a 'pirate ship' shortly after leaving Hobart for the voyage South. Paul Watson has already canvassed the opportunity of the Farley Mowat to be retired from service and perhaps used as a floating ant-whaling museum.
==Background: ==
* SF Indybay IMC - Sea Shepherd Ship Holed during Collision with Whaling Ship
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/12/18361685.php
* SF Indybay IMC - Antarctic Direct Action: Japanese Claims of Injuries are Bogus says Sea Shepherd
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/09/18360001.php
* SF Indybay IMC - US Government Refuses to Act against Japan on Whaling
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/09/18360043.php
* SF Indybay IMC - Sea Shepherd crew missing in Antarctic waters
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/08/18359650.php
==Sources:==
1. Greenpeace 20 Feb 2007 - The Japanese government is playing Russian Roulette with the Antarctic
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/02/the_japanese_government_i.html
2. ENS 19 Feb 2007 - Japan Implored to Move Damaged Whaler Before Fuel Spills
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2007/2007-02-19-05.asp
3. Newswire.co.nz - 20 Feb 2007 - Carter Cool On Whaling Ship's Prospects
http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=359538&catid=32
4. The Australian - 20 Feb 2007 - Crippled whaler could seek Aussie port
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21260709-1702,00.html
5. Bloomberg - 20 Feb 2007 - Damaged Japanese Whaling Ship May Resume Hunting off Antarctica
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aLCsC_Sk_41Y&refer=asia
6. The Age - 20 Feb 2007 - 'Pirate' ship misses flag deadline
http://tinyurl.com/ypbwkf
7. MIM - 20 Feb 2007 - 'Robert Hunter' Sea Shepherd Crew welcomed to Melbourne
http://tinyurl.com/32j2c2
8. US Coast Guard Press Release - Coast Guard Cutter Conducts Environmental Assessment of Fire Damaged Fishing Vessel
http://www.uscgpacificarea.com/go/doc/833/145102/
A fire onboard in the factory processing area on 15 February, caused the evacuation of non-essential crew to other vessels in the Japanese Whaling Fleet. After the fire was isolated and put out, the body of one member of the crew, Kazutaka Makita, was recovered. The ship has had power restored but has been unable to start the ship engines so far.
== Fire triggers Maritime Distress Signal ==
The Nisshin Maru issued a maritime distress signal resulting in a response from the Greenpeace ship Esperanza. A United States coast guard ice breaker, Polar Sea, also responded but has since moved on after conducting a 360 degree environmental assessment around the Nisshun Maru.
The Nisshin Maru has the supply ship Oriental Bluebird on one side and the whale hunter Yushin Maru on the other. It is drifting in the Ross Sea near pack ice about 100km from the world's largest Adelie penguin breeding rookery, at Cape Adare on the Antarctic coast. The Nisshin Maru is carrying more than 1,000 tonnes (343,000 gallons) of fuel, and if it leaked or spilled could cause incalculable damage to wildlife and the pristine polar environment.
Details of the exact nature of the fire damage are sketchy, although it was located in the processing section of the ship and damaged the main electrical switchboard and equipment used for propulsion. Power has now been restored, but attempts to restart the ship engines have so far failed.
The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is a former fire fighting ship with towing capabilities, with the Captain having 10 years salvage experience on board tugboats. The Institute for Cetecean Research for the Japanese Government has rejected offers by Greenpeace to tow the Nisshin Maru out of the area.
Greenpeace campaigner, Melanie from the Esperanza, said "All of our offers to tow the vessel to safety have been refused by the Japanese authorities in Tokyo. We have been told that the whaling fleet will use its own vessels to tow the Nisshin Maru north, however, the Esperanza still remains the best-equipped ship for the job."
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has urged Japan to immediately remove the Nisshin Maru from Antarctic waters to reduce the risk of damage to the fragile polar environment. "We have a huge concern for the environment, a pristine environment in the area of Antarctica where New Zealand has a claim," said Prime Minister Clark. "So we would like to see that stricken ship out of there as soon as possible."
Later on Newstalk ZB radio Helen Clark said "My advice is if you can't see a way of getting that boat out of there without some help either from the American vessel or from Greenpeace or from somebody else, the world is going to be very upset if there's a major spill in that area,"
At her post-Cabinet press conference, she said, "One would hope that the fact that this season has been so ghastly for the Japanese whaling fleet might give cause for some reflection on whether they come back again."
== Will the Whale Hunt Resume? ==
According to a Glen Inwood, a public relations spokesperson for the International Cetecean Research Institute, the damage to the engines isn't as bad as initially determined, "They've pumped out all the water after the fire and are checking the wiring. It would be ideal if they could get moving today and continue on." he said. The prospect of whaling continuing this season is only possible if the Nisshin Maru is available to process the whale meat from the slaughter.
If the whale hunt continues Greenpeace protests from the Esperanza will target the harpoon boats in an effort to frustrate the harpooners, and draw maximum publicity on the barbarity of hunting and slaughtering whales.
== Australia, New Zealand cool on providing Port Facilities ==
New Zealand Conservation Minister, Chris Carter, has also said there were serious issues to consider before New Zealand gave safe harbour to the damaged Nisshin Maru, if a request from the Japanese Government was made. "They do have whale meat on board, it is a vessel that's currently unsafe – and filled with rather nasty and toxic chemicals," Mr Carter said.
A spokeswoman for Australia's Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull, declined to say whether permission would likely be granted for the Nisshin Maru to enter an Australian port. "Under Australia's Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act, a whaling vessel may only enter an Australian port with the written permission of the minister for environment and water resources," the spokeswoman said.
There are international obligations to allow a damaged vessel into port if an unforeseen emergency made it necessary to save the vessel or a human life.
While the Esperanza watches the stricken whaling factory ship from a distance, Greenpeace has been providing information on the movement of ice floes in the area from their helicopter. While the weather is currently relatively calm, polar sea conditions can change abruptly causing problems for a ship without propulsion.
== Sea Shepherd ==
While Sea Shepherd set out to disable the Nisshin Maru, it is ironical that it was an onboard fire that seemingly achieved the goal of Sea Shepherd of stopping the whale hunt this season.
The Sea Shepherd vessel, the Robert Hunter, arrived in Melbourne on the 19th February and was greeted by supporters. This ship arrived just before the deadline for losing its British maritime registration. It is understood that Captain Paul Watson is negotiating with another country to flag the vessel. Johnny Vasic for Sea Shepherd said: "We want to make sure we have it before we announce it so we don't get pressure by Japan again."
The second Sea Shepherd ship, the Farley Mowat is due to dock in Melbourne on 22 February. It lost its flag registration after the Japanese Government pressured Belize, and was declared a 'pirate ship' shortly after leaving Hobart for the voyage South. Paul Watson has already canvassed the opportunity of the Farley Mowat to be retired from service and perhaps used as a floating ant-whaling museum.
==Background: ==
* SF Indybay IMC - Sea Shepherd Ship Holed during Collision with Whaling Ship
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/12/18361685.php * SF Indybay IMC - Antarctic Direct Action: Japanese Claims of Injuries are Bogus says Sea Shepherd
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/09/18360001.php * SF Indybay IMC - US Government Refuses to Act against Japan on Whaling
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/09/18360043.php * SF Indybay IMC - Sea Shepherd crew missing in Antarctic waters
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/08/18359650.php ==Sources:==
1. Greenpeace 20 Feb 2007 - The Japanese government is playing Russian Roulette with the Antarctic
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/02/the_japanese_government_i.html 2. ENS 19 Feb 2007 - Japan Implored to Move Damaged Whaler Before Fuel Spills
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2007/2007-02-19-05.asp 3. Newswire.co.nz - 20 Feb 2007 - Carter Cool On Whaling Ship's Prospects
http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=359538&catid=32 4. The Australian - 20 Feb 2007 - Crippled whaler could seek Aussie port
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21260709-1702,00.html 5. Bloomberg - 20 Feb 2007 - Damaged Japanese Whaling Ship May Resume Hunting off Antarctica
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aLCsC_Sk_41Y&refer=asia 6. The Age - 20 Feb 2007 - 'Pirate' ship misses flag deadline
http://tinyurl.com/ypbwkf 7. MIM - 20 Feb 2007 - 'Robert Hunter' Sea Shepherd Crew welcomed to Melbourne
http://tinyurl.com/32j2c2 8. US Coast Guard Press Release - Coast Guard Cutter Conducts Environmental Assessment of Fire Damaged Fishing Vessel
http://www.uscgpacificarea.com/go/doc/833/145102/
Takver
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